Weisberg Barristers Criminal Lawyers | FAQ

Judicial Pre-trial

What is a judicial pre-trial?

A judicial pre-trial is not unlike a Crown pre-trial, except that a judge presides over the discussion. These meetings often occur in a judge’s chambers, and no official record is kept of what is said between the lawyers and the Judge. In Toronto, many criminal courthouses require a judicial pre-trial for any case that will require a day or more of court time.

At a judicial pre-trial, the judge will ensure that the time estimates decided on by the Crown and the defence lawyer are accurate so that no valuable Court time is wasted. In some cases, the judge will provide guidance to the lawyers regarding issues on which agreement cannot be reached.

A prepared and capable criminal lawyer in the Greater Toronto Area can often gain tactical advantages for the client at a judicial pre-trial.